Improvement in seal-locks



UNTTED STATES PATENT FRANKLIN W. BROOKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

-IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS.

have `invented a new and useful Device for Sealing Locks, which is described as follows:

My invention consists in providing in a guard or keeper, which when once applied cannot be removed without destroying it, a seal of variegated colors, and of such a nature that it cannot be duplicated, and will thus constitute an unfailing indication whether the guard or keeper found in position at any fuv ture time is the same which was originally placed there by the authorized party.

The guard or keeper may constitute the shackle of a keyless padlock, which, locking with a spring, cannot be unlocked Without cutting and removing the shackle; or it may be employed as a keeperto secure the shackle of a common padlock after the same may have been unlocked, or as a guard for the key-hole of a lock of any description; or the guard or keeper, with a suitable spring-catch, which will hold it, and will be inaccessible after the keeper has been placed in position, may conl stitute a complete lock of very cheap form, which cannot be opened Without such destruction of its exposed part as `will lead to certaindetection.

1n the form last referred to my device forms a valuable means of securing doors independently of the proper locks, as will be hereinafter explained. Y

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l represents an elevation, partly in section on the line z z, Fig. 2, of a keyless padlock illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the inner face of the'top plate of the same,showing the spring-catches and the ends of the shackle secured thereby. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a similar lock, showing the seal dii'erently located, and the shackle partly cut away preliminary to its removal. Fig. 4 is a top view of the lock shown in Fig. 3, the line y y indicating the plane of the section in said figure.' Fig. 5 is a front view (with the faceplate removed) of a tumbler-padlock, with my sealing device applied as a supplementary keeper for the shackle of the lock. Fig. 6 is a side view of the same with the said keeper removed. Fig. 7 is a sectional view thereof in the planes indicated by the line Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a front view of a similar padlock with my sealing device applied as a cap or guard to the key-hole. Fig. 9 is a view of the interior of the face-plate of the same, showing the spring-catches for retaining the guard. Fig. 10 is a view from' the lower edge of the face-plate and its attachment.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

A, in Figs. l, 2,3, and 4, represents a closed case, having' no key-hole or other means of access to the interior, excepting at the points a a, where are apertures to receive the arrowheaded or barbed ends b b of a shackle, B, which shackle, when once placed in position and secured by the spring-catches C C engaging its ends b b, completely closes the apertures a a, and cannot possibly be removed without destroying the lock or cutting the shackle, and turning its parts at right angles from their original position, which action releases the barbs from the catches.

In Fig. 5, B represents a shackle of modified construction, which, for clearness of deL scription, I shall term the keeper. One of its ends is xed tothe proper shackle D of the lock by means of a headed projection or fixed button, b', which, entering a wrecess, d, inthe shackle D when the keeper B is at right angles therewith, isl firmly engaged by turning the said keeper to the position shown in Fig. 5, when the barb or arrow-head b, Fig. 5, entering the aperture a, Figs. 5 and 6, in the case of the lock, is caught and held by the spring-catch C, and cannot be subsequently removed to permit the withdrawal of the shackle D until the keeper B itself has been cut.

The internal construction of this lock may be of any suitable or cmmon character; but a suitable guard is applied, as shown at E, to prevent access to the catch O by a wire introduced at the key-hole.

In Figs. 8 and 9 mykeeper is shown as applied 4 in the form of a cap to the key-hole, its arrowheaded ends b b being held by spring-catches C G, as before, which cannot be retracted after the application of the cap or keeper, so that the latter must be cut, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to permit the turning of its ends separately at right angles to their original position, as before explained. Fig. 8 shows the cap thus FFICE.

cut and one of its ends removed, the position which said end occupied being indicated by dotted outline. y v

In order to prevent the keeper above described from being duplicated, so that it may be cut and removed and replaced by another Without detection, I apply a seal, S, which I prefer to form of variegated glass or other suitable'material, (black and White,) so mingled together that When the same has been poured or pressed, in molten or plastic form, into its receptacle, it will present a variegated ligure Which cannot be made twice alike.

This seal constitutes the most important feature of my invention, as its use in the manner hereinafter explained aords absolute security against duplicating the keeper, on which the security of the lock depends.

The receptacle for the seal may be on the inside of the shackle, as shown in Fig. 1, on the outside thereof, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, on either face of the supplementary keeper, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, or on either the inner or outer face of a guard-cap for the key-hole, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and l0. When it is on the outside ofthe guard-cap, as shown in Fig. 8, I prefer to employ an additional hinged cap, F,'to protect the seal from accidental injury.

This hinged cap may be held down'by a common catch and readily raised to expose the seal for inspection.

As an example of an important and valuable use of the invention, I will describe the mode of using it as applied to mail-locks. For this purpose a keyless lock, such as is represented in Figs. l and 2, costing but a few cents, vvill ai'ord all necessary or possible protection, the opening of the bags Without subsequent detection beingr absolutely precluded. The keeper, which/is to be applied to any particular bag, having been prepared with its seal of variegated glass, or other inaterial the igure of which cannot be reproduced, an exact representation` is taken of said seal by photograph or other means. One copy of this representation is placed Within the bag, one is sent to the consignee of the bag by other conveyance or at another time,

and the third is retained by the sender of the bag for security, so that it can be subsequently compared by either party. The bag, being then locked with this simple contrivance, cannot be opened by any one Without destroying the fastening, the seal of which has been numbered and registered, and cannot possibly be reproduced.

The invention may be applied in a similar manner in the sending of express matters, or for custom and internal-revenue service in various Ways, which Will be apparent to all familiar with the practice and requirements of these interests.

The seal-shackle constructed as above described may be applied to a door independently of the proper lock by having the concealed catches (l C, one in the body oi' the door and the other in the door-post, the shackle being made of proper shape and suiicientlen gth, but rigid, to prevent turning Without having been iirst cut. The proper lock of the door Will then constitute the protection against burglars, While the seal-shackle will prevent the opening of the door in the absence of the owner, Without his knowledge, by servants or others having care of the premises.

It' preferred, the sealed keeper may be applied as a key-hole cap for the door-lock, or trunk-lock, bank-lock, or any other lock, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8.

I claim as my inventionl. The seal S, of variegated glass or other l material of different colors, Which can be represented by photography or other means, and cannot readily be duplicated, when applied Within a recess or cavity in a guard or shackle of a lock, substantially as herein set i'orth.

2. The guard or keeper B b, provided with a seal, S, of various colors, and employed to secure the key-hole of a lock of any'fsuitable construction, or the shackle to the case of a padlock, substantially as represented and described.

FRANKLIN W. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

JAs. L. EWlN, i WM. H. BnnRE'roN, Jr. 

